Citation: Roberts, A.; Harris, K.; Outen, B.; Bukvic, A.; Smith, B.; Schultz, A.; Bergman, S.; Mondal, D. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine: A Brief Review of the Hands-On Treatment Approaches and Their Therapeutic Uses. Medicines 2022, 9, 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/ medicines9050033 Academic Editor: James David Adams Received: 15 December 2021 Accepted: 20 April 2022 Published: 27 April 2022 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). medicines Review Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine: A Brief Review of the Hands-On Treatment Approaches and Their Therapeutic Uses Ashley Roberts 1 , Kaylee Harris 1 , Bethany Outen 1 , Amar Bukvic 1 , Ben Smith 1 , Adam Schultz 1 , Stephen Bergman 2 and Debasis Mondal 1, * 1 DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, 9737 Cogdill Road, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA; ashley.roberts02@lmunet.edu (A.R.); kaylee.harris@lmunet.edu (K.H.); bethany.outen@lmunet.edu (B.O.); amar.bukvic@lmunet.edu (A.B.); ben.smith@lmunet.edu (B.S.); adam.schultz@lmunet.edu (A.S.) 2 DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA; stephen.bergman@lmunet.edu * Correspondence: debasis.mondal@lmunet.edu Abstract: Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is an emerging practice in the healthcare field with increasing popularity and evidence-based therapy. Osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) include hands-on manipulations of different body structures to increase systemic homeostasis and total patient well-being. Indeed, this new realm of the whole patient-based approach is being taught in osteopathic schools around the country, and the osteopathic principles of a mind-body-spirit- based treatment are being instilled in many new Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) students. However, despite their proven therapeutic value, there are still many individuals, both in and outside the medical profession, who are unaware (or misinformed) of the therapeutic uses and potential benefits of OMT. Here, we provide a brief introduction to this osteopathic therapeutic approach, focusing on the hands-on techniques that are regularly implemented in the clinical setting. It is becoming increasingly evident that different OMTs can be implemented to enhance patient recovery, both alone and in conjunction with the targeted therapies used in allopathic regimens. Therefore, it may be beneficial to inform the general medical community and educate the public and those associated with the healthcare field about the benefits of using OMT as a treatment modality. OMT is lower-cost, noninvasive, and highly effective in promoting full-body healing by targeting the nervous, lymphatic, immune, and vascular systems. There is a growing body of literature related to osteopathic research and the possible molecular pathways involved in the healing process, and this burgeoning field of medicine is expected to increase in value in the healthcare field. This brief review article explains the frequently utilized OMT modalities and their recognized therapeutic benefits, which underscore the need to understand the possible molecular mechanisms and circulating biomarkers linked to the systemic benefits of osteopathic medicine. Keywords: osteopathy; muscle energy; myofascial release; balanced ligamentous tension; diaphragm; HVLA (High-velocity low amplitude); lymphatic pump; cranial osteopathy 1. A Brief Overview of Osteopathic Medicine In principle, it is generally believed that osteopathy is an alternative practice of medicine that accentuates the body’s innate principles of self-healing and modification to achieve homeostasis [1]. Osteopathic therapy utilizes manipulation of the body’s tissues and bones to facilitate the healing process. The lower cost of osteopathic medicine, their noninvasive methodologies, and their proven efficacy in promoting full-body healing is a testament to the growing number of osteopathic medical schools around the country. There are currently 37 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States. An esti- mated 7445 osteopathic medical students graduated in 2021, and 8945 first-year osteopathic medical students are expected to matriculate in the 2021-22 academic year [2]. One in four Medicines 2022, 9, 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines9050033 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/medicines